Pikes, gulls and lynx devour each other in the children's book "Everyone Eats All"

Swedish nature has always fascinated Aron Landahl. From growing up memorizing Gotland's plants, birds and animals, to biology studies and working as a nature guide.

– All that had its ultimate outlet in this book, says Aron Landahl to SVT.

"Natural knowledge, presented as a storybook, captures my interest very well. Nature is so very fascinating.

The cover of "Everyone Eats All" has a hole showing the book's first illustration. A kind of homage to Tove Jansson's classic "How did it go then?". Photo: Rabén & Sjögren förlag

Based on real events

In "Everyone Eats All", each spread depicts an animal eating another, from mosquito to dragonfly, from frog to snake, and further in a circular picture story that depicts the food chain. The idea came from one of Aron Landahl's own nature experiences, when he heard a sudden rustle among the leaves on a forest walk:

"There was a lizard that was eating a spider, the legs sticking out of the corners of its mouth were still rattling.

Aron Landahl was struck by the fact that the rustle of leaves from the spider's legs could attract a hungry bird, and he got the idea to draw a picture story about the food chain.

"Seeing one animal attack another, and eat it, is a special feeling. I wanted to capture it in the book.

Inspired by Hans Arnold

Aron Landahl's acrylic paintings have a peculiar style, a kind of schoolboard aesthetic that meets playful naivism and a sometimes dark imagery. Master mystery master Hans Arnold is a role model, and Aron has several of the cartoonist's old colored pencils at home.

Aron Landahl plays with anatomy and proportions in his illustrations, to enhance the drama of the animals' struggle. It creates a fairytale-like aesthetic that is at once realistic and imaginative. Photo: Per Nilsson/SVT

Although "Everyone Eats All" touches death, the intention has not been to write a scary book, according to the author himself.

"I think there may be some excessive anxiety in what children will be afraid of. If you hint at a threat, it can probably create a greater fear, than if you actually face it directly. I think it is a good thing not to shy away from that.

– I want the dominant feeling from "Everyone eats everyone" to be that nature is cool, and that it should feel exciting to discover more. That is my hope.